[Rheumatism--a disease of civilization? Incidence of inflammatory rheumatic diseases in South Africa].

The population of Southern Africa is currently estimated at least 40 million and comprises people of 3 major--groups Negroid, Khoisan and Caucasoid. In addition to these, there are also smaller groups whose origin is Asiatic or Oriental, and a mixed group (coloured) which has resulted from the miscegenation between the Negroid-Caucasoid and other groups [1]. This great diversity of peoples and cultures permits unique opportunities for studies in comparative medicine which may provide valuable information about the pathogenesis and natural history of disease. The rheumatic diseases have not been looked at in this comparative way until recently. This is, in part, because the demands of infective and nutritional diseases on medical services have tended to overshadow the rheumatic diseases. This paper reviews the investigation of inflammatory rheumatic disease in Southern Africa.